The would-be MP lives in the North East, commuting to Brussels when needed for her day job.

The polls suggest the Lib Dems will have the hardest job retaining a seat in the North East, but Ms Schneider has positioned herself as the most proudly-European candidate on the list in the North East.

Ms Schneider says she first came to the North East 10 years ago to be with her fiancée Rick, who grew up in Whitley Bay, North Tyneside, and lived in Longhorsley in Northumberland. She moved to the area permanently in 2008, living first in Longhorsley and then in Corbridge.

Her campaign has been based around protecting jobs in the North East which she says would be put at risk if the UK were to leave the European Union.

She says: “As someone who lives locally and has friends and family here, I understand the problems local people face on a daily basis.

“That’s why my number one priority as your new MEP will be to carry on fighting to protect jobs in the area and secure new investment to make sure the North East has the sustainable jobs it needs.”